Tarakeshwar Mahadev – Pristine and Mystical

The searing Delhi heat often makes me behave in an uncharacteristic manner. Last fortnight, on a sudden impulse, I packed my bags and drove down to a popular but sleepy hamlet in Uttarakhand called “Lansdowne”. It is a small town in Pauri Garhwal at a height of about 1700 meters above sea level, surrounded by tall and thick trees. Lansdowne is known for its rich flora, pure air, and breathtaking scenery of the Himalayas. From Delhi, it is about 280 kilometres and is best approached via Meerut, Bijnor, Najibabad and Kotdwar.

About 40 kilometres from Lansdowne and at a height of about 1800 meters is a “Sidhpeeth” called ‘Tarakeshwar Mahadev’ – a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. After a day’s rest at Lansdowne, early morning on the following day, I drove down to Tarakeshwar Mahadev. Though the condition of the road leading to ‘Tarakeshwar Mahadev is fairly drivable by ordinary standards, however, the width of the road is quite narrow and requires tact to negotiate vehicles from the opposite direction.

After about an hour and a half’s drive from Lansdowne, I reached ‘Tarakeshwar Mahadev’, a small temple structure ensconced in thick foliage of huge deodar and pine trees, each tree measuring about 150-200 ft in height and about 7-10 ft in girth.

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I was pleasantly surprised by the serenity and the beauty of this place and for the next few hours, I simply roamed around in the area which also houses couple of ‘dharamshalas’ each consisting of about 4-5 rooms and some small ponds or ‘kunds’ located in front of them. I could also see some people ‘locked’ in meditation, sitting in the open, under the deodar trees. This place immediately transported me to an entirely different world free from all fears and worries.

After offering my obeisance to the deity, I had the opportunity to discuss with the temple priest about the history and sanctity of this place. Though there is much folklore associated with ‘Tarakeshwar Mahadev’, but the fact is you need to experience to believe the ‘vibrant energies’ that this place possesses.

The temple priest was extremely concerned with the deforestation of the place as every single ‘deodar’ tree in this region is worshipped. We were left with no choice but to agree that a large section of Indians do not have even the basic etiquettes of maintaining the do’s and don’ts of visiting such places. It was appalling to see kids and their parents’ alike, eating chips and drinking colas and throwing away the empty PET bottles and the plastic wrappers all over the place, without even an iota of hesitation, not bothered about the harm that such “non-biodegradable” waste can do to the environment. Nonetheless, on my way back from the temple complex to the car park, I made an effort to collect the empty plastic wrappers and other non-biodegradable waste that came my way and deposited them at the shop located in the parking area that was selling these items. Though the shopkeeper was pleased with my effort, however he expressed his helplessness in controlling the littering of such waste. I really wish that a suitable ‘effective’ solution is put in place quickly by all stakeholders and I feel sad to remark that no amount of signages advocating penalty/fine/imprisonment can contain the situation, as these are best described as ‘false’ deterrents.

The need of the moment is individualized efforts and in this regard, I must congratulate the ‘Save Tarakeshwar’ project, further details of which can be found at http://tarakeshwar.himalayanch- ipkofoundation.com/(thank you ‘google’ for the details)

The temple priest also suggested that I must pay a visit to a ‘unique ‘deodar tree (located at about 100 metres from the temple complex), which has naturally assumed the shape of a trident (trishul). By the way, deodar trees are mostly single stem trees. On reaching there, I was truly amazed to see the clarity with which this particular ‘deodar’ tree has actually assumed the shape of a ‘trishul’.

I am pasting a picture of this tree for the benefit of my fellow seekers.

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Atheists and Agnostics may come up with scientific and environmental justifications explaining as to why this particular tree has assumed the ‘unusual’ shape of a ‘trishul’, but I wish to retain my belief that the ‘positive vibrations’ of a holy place creates such ‘wonders’ as a definite proof of the existence of higher powers. The ‘unmistaken’ shape of a ‘trishul’ that this huge tree has assumed needs to be seen to be believed and it reinforces my faith in Lord Shiva, the Lord of Lords.